Granite and marble have long been viewed as the unrivalled options when you’re looking for high-end countertop materials. However, this has begun to change recently due to renewed interest in quartz.

The quartz renaissance has come about due to the natural benefits of this material, but recent advances in the manufacturing process have also played their part.
In fact, some sources are now naming quartz the leading countertop material. Just take a look at its advantages over materials like granite and you’re sure to appreciate why this shift has taken place all over the world.

Durability

Countertops, particularly those in the kitchen, tend to be some of the most hardworking surfaces in the home. Even high-traffic areas of flooring won’t have to put up with hot pans and slipped knives.

With that in mind, it should come as no surprise to learn that consumers value durability, and quartz is one of the best choices in this regard. Naturally stain-repellent and completely invulnerable when faced with acidic foods, it also resists scratches and chips. In contrast, granite and marble both develop wear rather easily; they’re beautiful, yet fragile. Additionally, granite and marble require regular sealing, which quartz never needs.

Style

Conventional opinion would have you believe that marble and granite are the most attractive countertop surfaces around, and, just a few short years ago, they probably would have been right.

Unlike quartz, marble and granite are mined directly from the ground before being reshaped. Quartz countertops are made from at least 90% quartz stone mixed with resin and colourant. That process used to produce slabs that were overly flecked and oddly uniform, but these shortcomings have been overcome. Nowadays, quartz countertops appear completely natural, and you can have them in any shade or colour you desire.

Affordability

When it comes down to it, budget represents a bottom line that the vast majority of homeowners simply cannot afford to ignore. Quartz currently commands a respectable price point between granite and marble, and its reduced maintenance needs allow buyers to save over the life of their countertops.

Granite and marble countertops once firmly ruled the roost, but those days appear to be well and truly over. If you’ve already dismissed quartz, it might be time to reconsider; you’ll receive a strong, durable material that won’t break the bank.